Chapter 279: The Crown Prince
The emperor was naturally aware of his own physical condition. He had originally wanted to wait until the land in the country was surveyed and the Great Wall in the north was built before handing the world over to Zhao Xing.
However, he did not expect that his health condition would become worse because he was too excited about the news of the civil unrest in Liao.
In fact, it is not the emperor's fault. After all, whether the Liao Kingdom will have civil strife is related to whether the Song Dynasty can build the Great Wall in the north. How can the emperor not be excited?
Although the emperor did not ask Imperial Physician Xu about his physical condition, he himself could feel that he could not hold on any longer.
He cannot die on the throne, otherwise, given Zhao Xing's current age, he will certainly not be able to rule the country after he ascends the throne.
The emperor himself had suffered the pain of having the empress dowager rule the country from behind the curtain, and he also knew the disadvantages of having the harem rule the country from behind the curtain.
The only way to avoid this situation is to abdicate.
The emperor did not hide his thoughts and told Zhao Xing all his plans.
Zhao Xing felt warm in his heart after hearing this, and said, "Father, isn't it the same if you let me serve as regent and take charge of government affairs? There is no need to abdicate in such a hurry. Besides, I don't have the confidence to be a good official, so you should take the helm for me first."
"Fu'er," the emperor said, "You are not legitimate, and as long as you have not ascended the throne, you still have to consult me on some matters."
"Since you have already asked Dr. Xu, you should know my condition. I haven't even had a grandson yet, and I want to live a few more years."
Zhao Xing knew his father had made up his mind after hearing this. He was silent for a while and asked, "When will the emperor announce this news?"
"Ascending the throne requires good preparations and an auspicious day. I will announce that you will be the regent, and when everything is ready, I will announce to the world that I will abdicate and let Fuer ascend the throne." The emperor smiled.
Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, as long as he didn't ascend the throne immediately.
But think about it, ascending the throne is no small matter. There are many things that need to be prepared, and it's not something that can be ascended just like that.
The father and son discussed some details. Seeing that his father looked tired, Zhao Xing asked his father to rest first and then took his leave.
…………
"I'm about to become the emperor, why don't I feel anything?"
Zhao Xing walked in the palace and couldn't help thinking.
In fact, Zhao Xing had thought about how he would feel when he ascended the throne and became emperor in the future.
Zhao Xing felt that he should be very excited. After all, he was the ruler of the world and the supreme ruler.
However, when this moment really came, my heart was very calm, without any ripples.
Zhao Xing thought about it and felt that he lacked joy because he knew the throne would definitely be his.
Shaking his head, Zhao Xing put aside these distracting thoughts.
According to his father's wishes, he will summon all officials tomorrow to issue an imperial decree, allowing him to supervise the country.
Starting tomorrow, he will go directly to Longtu Pavilion to work.
In other words, starting from tomorrow, although he is not the emperor, he has already grasped the power of the emperor.
When Zhao Xing returned to the East Palace, it was already late at night. He wanted to rest in Chaoyang Palace, but he had too many things in his mind that he wanted to talk to someone about, so after thinking about it he decided to go to Chunhe Palace.
At this time, Zhang Guifen had already gone to bed. Upon hearing the news, she put on a coat and came out.
"I woke you up."
Zhao Xing and Zhang Guifen had already gone to bed, so he was planning to leave, but he didn't expect Zhang Guifen to come out.
"I am not asleep either. Your Highness, please come in."
Zhang Guifen pulled Zhao Xing into the house, ordered the palace maid to fetch hot water, and personally helped Zhao Xing wash up.
Zhao Xing looked at Zhang Guifen who squatted down to wash his feet, and his heart suddenly calmed down again.
"Your Highness, is father in good health?" Zhang Guifen asked.
Logically speaking, when her father-in-law is sick, she, as a daughter-in-law, should go and take care of him.
However, there were many royal rules, and Zhao Xing was summoned into the palace suddenly. No news came afterwards, so it was difficult for her to enter the palace.
"It's okay now." Zhao Xing said.
"That's good. I will follow Your Highness into the palace tomorrow to serve my father." Zhang Guifen said.
"That's good. You can go to the palace and talk to your mother." Zhao Xing said.
"Ah."
Zhang Guifen wiped Zhao Xing's feet, stood up, washed her hands, and changed Zhao Xing's clothes.
After finishing their work, the couple went to bed, and Zhao Xing ordered the palace maids to turn off the lights and leave.
Zhang Guifen leaned in Zhao Xing's arms, moved her head, found a comfortable position, and said softly, "Your Highness, is there anything on your mind?"
"Does everything I'm worried about show on my face?"
Zhao Xing was a little confused. His father could see that he was worried in the palace today, and now Zhang Guifen also saw it.
Could it be that I just can't keep the truth secret?
Zhang Guifen blushed slightly and said shyly, "Your Highness usually rests here with me. As long as I am comfortable, Your Highness will...will..."
"What do you want?" Zhao Xing deliberately teased Zhang Guifen.
Zhang Guifen gritted her teeth and said, "Your Highness is making a fuss and not letting anyone turn off the lights. But tonight he had them turn off the lights early."
"Uh..." Zhao Xing was stunned, then laughed and said, "So you blame me for not favoring you."
"I don't have any."
Zhang Guifen was so embarrassed by what Zhao Xing said. She didn't blame Zhao Xing for not favoring her. She just felt that something was wrong with Zhao Xing and was worried, so she asked about it.
Although the lights were off, Zhao Xing could not see Zhang Guifen's expression, but he could imagine that Zhang Guifen must have looked very cute at this moment.
"My father told me today that he would abdicate the throne to me. I feel a little confused." Zhao Xing stopped teasing Zhang Guifen.
"Didn't Your Highness say that our father is in good health?" Zhang Guifen said anxiously.
Zhao Xing recounted his father's situation and said, "I felt calm on the way back, but I don't know why I felt confused when I returned to the East Palace." "What are you worried about, Your Highness?" Zhang Guifen asked.
"I don't know either. Maybe he's worried that my father would feel uncomfortable after abdicating. Or maybe he's worried that I won't do well after ascending the throne. In short, I feel confused. If you ask me why, I really can't tell you." Zhao Xing said bewilderedly.
"Your Highness now seems a little different from the Highness I knew before," said Zhang Guifen.
"Oh?" Zhao Xing smiled and said, "What kind of person am I in your heart?"
"In my heart, Your Highness is confident and calm. As long as Your Highness manages the Song Dynasty better, my father will surely be pleased. Your Highness should believe in yourself, and I also believe in Your Highness." Zhang Guifen said.
Zhao Xing was silent for a while, then he lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then smiled and said, "I am the one who is making trouble for myself. You are right. I should believe in myself."
At this time, Zhao Xing also figured out why he was so upset.
Starting from tomorrow, he will be in power. He doesn't know whether he can solve the long-standing problems of the Song Dynasty and make it stronger.
Therefore, I feel a little confused.
"Your Highness, it's good that you have thought it through. It's getting late, so go to bed early." Zhang Guifen said with a smile.
She could hear that there was no more confusion in Zhao Xing's tone.
Zhao Xing turned over and pressed Zhang Guifen under him, saying with a smile: "Tossing and turning will help you sleep."
…………
After discussing with Zhao Xing last night, the emperor ordered Eunuch Liu to send someone to notify all officials that a court meeting would be held in Chuigong Hall at 9:00 . today.
When all the officials received the news last night, they felt something was unusual.
When they stepped into the main hall of Chuigong Palace, they saw a chair added to the left side of the dragon throne. Zhao Xing was sitting on it. When they thought of the rumors that the emperor was ill, they had some guesses in their minds.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince!" said all the civil and military officials in salute.
"No need to formalize, everyone!" Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" All the officials straightened up after expressing their gratitude.
"I summoned you all here today because my father has an imperial decree that needs to be read."
Zhao Xing looked at Eunuch Liu and said, "Announce the decree!"
"Yes!"
Eunuch Liu responded and stepped forward holding the imperial edict.
Upon seeing this, all the civil and military officials bowed and stood up hurriedly.
Eunuch Liu unfolded the imperial edict and began to read it.
The content of the imperial edict was very simple. The emperor was not feeling well and needed to recuperate. From today on, the crown prince would hold the imperial seal and govern the country. All matters, big or small, would be handled by the crown prince.
"We obey your order!" All the officials stood up and said.
They had guessed it as soon as they entered the hall and saw Zhao Xing sitting on the imperial platform, so they were not surprised.
Zhao Xing encouraged all the officials with a few words, then left a few ministers and announced the adjournment of the court.
After all the officials paid their respects and left, only four ministers were left in the hall.
The four ministers were Han Zhang, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Li Xianggong, Shen Xianggong, the Minister of Rites, and Hu Zhongyan, the Minister of Personnel.
Among them, Shizhong Li Xianggong was the grandfather of Li Liangdi, one of Zhao Xing's concubines.
Speaking of which, Mr. Li's position has been changed frequently during this period.
The original Shizhong Zhou Yi Zhong was angered to death by Zhao Xing, so the emperor promoted Wei Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, who was about to retire, to Shizhong, and Li Xianggong became the Minister of Personnel.
However, Minister Wei was already old, and he fell ill and resigned not long after taking office. The emperor then promoted Prime Minister Li to be the Shizhong.
Lord Li was promoted again before he had even had time to warm up to the position of Minister of Personnel.
Hu Zhongyan became the Minister of Personnel.
Logically speaking, one should be happy about the promotion, but the Menxia Province of the Song Dynasty had low power and was almost a vassal of the Zhongshu Province.
Although the Shizhong is also a prime minister and his rank is higher than that of the Shangshu, his power is not as great as that of the Shangshu of Personnel.
Mr. Li just couldn't be happy.
But now Mr. Li is very happy.
Among the prince’s concubines, the prince’s father is the Duke of England.
Under the circumstances of the Song Dynasty, although the Duke of England has a noble status, his rights will not be too great.
Yu Yanran's grandfather is Yu Xianggong, who has a higher status than him, but Yu Xianggong is about to retire and is no longer in the court.
So what if the power is not high? Whether the power is great or not depends on the position, but the important thing is whether it is granted by the government.
The crown prince is now regent, and is actually no different from the emperor.
In the eyes of Prime Minister Li, among the ministers in the court, he is the closest to Zhao Xing, and Zhao Xing will definitely rely on him.
Zhao Xing looked at them and said, "My father has entrusted the country to me. I feel a lot of pressure. I will need you to help me stabilize the court and govern the world well!"
"We will do our best to assist Your Highness!" several people said in unison.
Zhao Xing smiled and nodded, then looked at Han Zhang and asked, "My Lord, how are the arrangements for sending reinforcements to the north going?"
"Your Highness!" Han Zhang bowed and said, "The order has been issued. Once the weapons and food supplies are in place, the army can set out!"
"Notify me when the time comes, and I will go personally to see the soldiers off!" said Zhao Xing.
"Yes!" Han Zhang replied.
(End of this chapter)